DIY Disinfectant Spray

With Just 3 Ingredients!

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When I went “green” several years ago, I stopped purchasing several conventional cleaning products and disinfectant sprays, not only to improve my own health, but also the health of my family.  As a result, my “under the sink” cleaning collection got much smaller! 

I’ve purchased so-called green products over the years and tried making some of my own.  Some worked, others didn’t.  This one seems to stand the test of time.

Why Make Your Own Disinfectant Spray?

I’ve chosen to make my disinfectant spray, very simply, because it’s easy and inexpensive!  Sure, I could purchase a reputable brand, but it actually saves me time and money not to.  And with all of the uncertainty in the products on the market today, I don’t have to wonder if the ingredients listed are honest.   

Many of the name brand cleaners do not include ingredients on their labels, which is a big clue that their ingredients include toxic chemicals.  Many of the ingredients are carcinogens, volatile organic compounds and known toxins, such as phthalate esters, that may be hormone-disrupting and can aggravate asthma, provoke allergies, affect reproductive development and may pose a particular health risk to babies and young children. 

It’s especially important to reduce chemicals around children since they are more vulnerable to chemicals.  Their organs and immune systems are still developing and certain chemicals could interfere with the development of their neurological, endocrine and immune systems.  In fact, the damage done by chemicals in adolescence can be detrimental even into their adult lives.

Therefore, I try not to take any chances when it comes to the health of my family.  When in doubt, I just do not use questionable cleaners.  I stick with the ones I know are safe and non-toxic.

What Is In This Disinfectant Spray?

This recipe very simply includes only the following 3 ingredients.  It’s very versatile and can be used anywhere in the home.

• Essential Oils
• Distilled White Vinegar or Cleaning Vinegar
• Water, filtered or distilled

Best Essential Oils for Cleaning

Essential oils are great for so many things.  However, they are not just wonderful scents.  Many types of plant oils are well-known and accepted for their antimicrobial qualities.  Pure essential oils are so potent that they can destroy bacteria, fungus and viruses with the compounds they contain and are a great alternative to using commercially harsh household cleaners and disinfectants. 

The general rule is to use 10-20 drops of essential oils for each 2-3 cups of cleaning solution.  I always recommend using 100% therapeutic grade essential oils that have been extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing the oils from herbs, plants or flowers.  Although there are several brands on the market (doTERRA, Healing Solutions, Plant Therapy & Young Living), I really love the Edens Garden Brand.  They are reasonably priced and smell really good!  Here are my favorites for cleaning and disinfecting. 

1. Cinnamon oil

Cinnamon oil is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic.  It is powerful against fighting mold. 

2. Eucalyptus oil

3. Lavender oil

Lavender oil is one of the best-smelling naturally antibacterial essential oils.  It pairs well vinegar, making it a more bearable scent. 

4. Citrus Oils

Citrus Oils, in general, have a very uplifting scent and make great additions to your cleaning products. 

• Lemon oil is loved for its light, clean scent.  It is also a powerhouse in homemade cleaning and disinfecting recipes.  Lemon oil is naturally antibacterial and antiviral and is commonly used to degrease stubborn stains, as well as freshen the air. 
• Grapefruit oil is great at fighting grease.  It is a powerful antiseptic, disinfectant, antiviral & antibacterial agent. 
• Orange Oil (whether Blood Orange, Sweet Orange or Wild Orange, Mandarin, Clementine or Tangerine) has a happy scent.  Although orange oil is also great for fighting grease, it is NOT a great oil for disinfecting. This group of oils has a high d-limonene content, making them great antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral agents and are great for adding to homemade cleaners.   The properties of these orange oils are basically the same.  Your personal preference in aroma is the only choice you must make! 

5. Peppermint oil

6. Pine oil

Pine oil is effective at killing yeast spores, E.coli and other household germs. It is perfect for ridding the bathroom of mold and mildew.

7. Purify

Purify is a blend of Grapefruit, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Lime and Lemon essential oils.  It is an all-natural disinfectant and neutralizer.  I often use this oil blend in my disinfectant sprays for their joint efforts.    

8. Simply Citrus

Simply Citrus is another blend of oils, containing Blood Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin, Spearmint, and Sweet Orange essential oils that has a powerful antioxidant d-limonene content, making it another great antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral agent that is great for adding to homemade cleaners.  

9. Thyme oil

Thyme oil is one of the most powerful weapons against germs.  It is effective against salmonella and can be used to clean cutting boards that have come in contact with raw meat.

10. Tea Tree Oil

Benefits of Using White Vinegar

Vinegar is an acidic, clear liquid substance derived from fermenting alcohol, usually made from fruits or grains.  The most common vinegar sold in the stores in the U.S. is distilled white vinegar. These vinegars have gone through a pasteurization and straining process where the bacteria used in making the vinegar has been removed.  You may notice “strands” or “floaters” in vinegars that have not been distilled.  However, these do not alter the vinegar’s effectiveness as a natural cleaner. 

Distilled white vinegar is generally comprised of approximately 5% acetic acid and 95% water.  Note, however, that vinegars do vary in the amount of acidity they contain.  These vinegars have a pH of approximately 2.0 to 3.0.  The acid in the vinegar kills bacteria and viruses by crossing their cell membrane, changing their proteins and fats that make up the bacteria and viruses, causing the cells to die.  When applied as a cleaner, it creates an inhospitable environment for these microorganisms.  This is why it is often used as a primary ingredient in homemade cleaning and disinfecting products! 

Is Vinegar A Good Cleaning Agent?

One thing you must be aware of, though is that vinegar is NOT effective at removing dirt and grime around your home, not even when combined with baking soda.  It is, however, effective in removing microbial contamination, as well as loosening up mineral deposits and dissolving soap scum, due to its alkaline nature.  This is why vinegar is touted as a natural disinfectant.  Therefore, it is best to use vinegar as a rinse to help to disinfect a surface AFTER you have cleaned it with a soap-based cleaner. 

If you are looking for an even more powerful disinfectant, consider using cleaning vinegar, which has a higher level of acidity than distilled white vinegar.  Cleaning vinegar is comprised of approximately 6% acetic acid and 94% water.  Although a 1% difference in the acidity of the vinegars may not sound like much of a difference, it actually makes the product 20% stronger.   Therefore, cleaning vinegar will be much more effective at cleaning and disinfecting, especially in homes where people are sensitive to chemicals.

Its other benefits include being entirely natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, and inexpensive, not to mention it’s been used as a common disinfectant for thousands of years! 

Where Can Vinegar Be Used?

Vinegar can be used just about anywhere in the home, from kitchens to bathrooms, windows to floors.  It is great for cleaning mold and mildew in the bathroom.  However, it is NOT recommended for use on marble, granite, or soapstone surfaces, since the acid content can etch the surfaces and cause natural stone to pit and lose its shine.

This disinfectant spray is meant to be a “maintenance spray,” and is designed to be used BETWEEN deep cleanings.  It will prevent mold and mildew, as well as eliminate odors and reduce germs.   If used as a daily shower cleaning spray, it will prevent soap scum from building up more, but it will not remove the soap scum that’s already there.

How Much Vinegar Should I Use?

Finally, the ratio of vinegar to water may vary, depending on your cleaning task.  I use a 50/50 solution of vinegar to water for general, all-purpose cleaning.  However, more vinegar may be needed to clean heavy mildew stains on tile or to disinfect a cutting board.  You can alter the recipe below to suit your needs.

How to Store Your Disinfectant Spray

Although it is widely known that essential oils will degrade plastic and leach the toxic plastic chemicals into the spray blend, I generally keep my cleaning and disinfecting products in plastic spray bottles for ease of use.  I especially keep the ones in my shower in plastic bottles, for the obvious reason of safety.  I don’t want a glass bottle breaking in my shower!  If I plan to use an oil mixture on my skin, however, I will only store my oils in dark glass bottles.   

The expiration date listed on a bottle of vinegar is approximately 3 ½ years.  However, the The Vinegar Institute (VI), which is comprised of vinegar manufacturers worldwide, states that vinegar has an almost indefinite shelf life and notes that vinegar may change aesthetically after a period of time, but it is still safe to use.  So, if you make a spray concoction and it is stored properly, it should last for years.  You will most likely use it before it ever becomes unsafe to use!  Just make sure you give the bottle a good shake before each use to make sure the oils are distributed evenly.

Have you ever made your own disinfectant spray?  How do you use yours?  Please share below.

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